This is a series of Posts or Comments about Integration with Autopilots. It is a work in progress!
by werner.thon - 09/09/2014 - 11:22
I am trying to use my SPX5 with OCPN on a WINDOWS 7 tablet. The USB output is connected via a
ShipModul Miniplex Lite to the MNEA input of the AP. With the OCPN output set to $ECRMB and a route activated
the output is something like
$ECRMB,A,0.001,R,001,002,5431.307,N,00941.537,E,1.488,31.551,0.104,V*32
The AP displays the contents (ID of next waypoint, XTE, BRG, RNG) on its data pages, but it refuses to switch
to TRACK mode. According to the Raymarine support this is due to the lack of one more data field within the RMB
sentence. It should look like
$ECRMB,A,0.001,R,001,002,5431.307,N,00941.537,E,1.488,31.551,0.104,V,A*32
with the A just left of the checksum star beeing the 'mode indicator' as specified from NMEA 2.3 on.
Raymarine support says, this data field is mandatory for the SPX5 to switch to TRACK mode.
Anybody knows a solution for this?
If an OCPN developer reads this: could OPCN be updated to conform MNEA 2.3?
by SunsetCay - 04/29/2014 - 11:49
I was finally able to connect the OpenCPN output to control my auto-pilot with the help of Island Marine in Ft Pierce, FL. My boat is equipped witha Raymarine RL 80c chart plotter connected to a Raymarine ST5000 Autopilotbut I think the following will work on any auto-pilot that accepts NMEA input. I had the USB cable purchased for $47.50 from: Mouser Electronics 1000 N. Main St Mansfield, TX 76063 www.Moser.com 800 346-6873 Mouser part# 895-USBRS422WE5000BT The cable is from Future Technology Devices International LTD. Their partnumber: USB-RS422-WE-5000-BT Description; Cable Assemblies USB to RS422 Embedded Conv Wire End 5m The cable has a USB Dongle on one end with a built in chip that converts the computer output to a variety of signals depending on the program in use to the nine bare wires at the other end. The OpenCPN program outputs a NMEA signal on the red wire #3 and the orange wire #4. We connected thetwo wires to the NMEA slots in the Raymarine connections block; red to theNMEA positive (+) and the orange to NMEA negative (-) ports. The instructions that came with the cable indicated an opposite polarity and we had to reverse to the above to make it work. When the output connection was created in OpenCPN the following properties were used: Serial was checked Data Port;Com4 (the port number could be different on other computers) Baud Rate; 4800 Protocol; NMEA 183 (this was greyed out and no change could be made) Priority; 0 Control checksum and Use Garmin were not checked Accept only sentences was checked Output on this port was checked Transmit sentences was checked The computer and the Raymarine plotter had to be shut down and restarted after the connections were made before it worked properly. The Raymarine SeaTalk signal will override the NMEA signal to the auto-pilot if both are present at the same time. Occasionally there is a delay of several seconds before the NMEA signal from OpenCPN is displayed on the Raymarine chart plotter.
by Petr Bradatsch - 11/27/2012 - 19:28
I started to test OpenCPN and found it great, but my Autopilot (Raymarine) would not work properly in TRACK mode. It did not keep a straight line, but was performing a zigzag path. I tested all settings on the autopilot (damping, gain, and so on) but with no improvement.
After I added the RMC sentence to the output (add “AutoPilot NMEA Sentence Out=RMB;RMC” in the settings file) all problems disappeared and the yacht sails straight like a on a real track.
It is a simple solution but it took me 2 days to figure it out, so maybe this might be a help to others.
by Max1947 - 08/16/2013 - 18:17
Hello Petr , how can I configure my ST 1000 autopilot 'cause functions with OpenCPN ? Can you give me a hand?
by Schenke - 03/26/2013 - 19:06
Hi Petr Bradatsch,
I use a Raymarine ST4000+ and OpenCPN on a Laptop.
How did you realize the hardware link (interfacing) between the Laptop (OpenCPN) and the Autopilot (which cable and plug)? Does Raymarine supply a cable for this application? Which Autopilot do you use?